TV show 30 Days - Animal Rights
By sedel1027
@sedel1027 (17846)
Cupertino, California
June 22, 2008 12:19am CST
Last night we caught the last half of the newest 30 Days where they had someone who was very pro-hunter and not concerned about animal rights, live with a family who was very pro-animal rights. They were PETA, but that IS NOT what this post is about.
For you who are no familiar with the show,. The guy - Morgan Spurlock - who did the eating McDonalds for 30 Days and documented how eating it affected him started a show where either him - or someone he recruits - does something life changing for 30 days.
The first episode of the season 2 people from New York City who were very un-econ-friendly went to live on a commune where there was zero power from the power grid, they grew their own food and the cars ran on bio-diesl. Oh, and no meat unless you killed it.
Anyway, last weeks episode (#3 for the season) there was a part where they go into an animal shelter (this is where I tuned in, I wish I could have seen the entire episode) and there is a dog (grab the Kleenex) on a leash, the dog is VERY happy someone is giving him attention. You can see the happiness and trust in his eyes. The people are talking saying how happy the animals are and how that where they are going is the end of the line for most of them. The guy going through the 30 Days process say something how you can see of they trust the person and how can anyone put down any animal when they see how much trust and happiness there is, but the room is built for what is made for, and what they are doing is wrong. The guy at the shelter says where they kill them and then they open the freezer and show a red bag.......
At this point I am crying so hard that my husband is like WTF is going on, heck I am crying now. I had problems sleeping last night. I tried talking about it to my hubby tonight and got upset again.
We all know the numbers....after you dry your eyes and clam down...start to think. What can be done? We all know that these shelters can not afford the animals and people do not want them loose. What is a better solution?
Also, what kind of person could feed a dog, clean their cage, give them fresh water for X amount of time (most shelters seem to keep animals for 30 days) and then either a) walk them to that room or B0 do the deed? What does that say about a person? Would you want a person like that to be your neighbor or be around your family?
To make you feel better: they did rescue a calf that was left dying in a field (to be turned into veal...think about that next time you see cheap beef...remember the USDA recall earlier this year...downer cows) and it was nursed to health. 
I am off to find a way to buy a billion acres of land to take all these aninals in.....
I am off to find a way to buy a billion acres of land to take all these aninals in.....2 people like this
2 responses
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
23 Jun 08
I watched his series (on FX, right?) before but wasn't aware it was starting up again now. I'd better get it set up on record series. Anyhow, the only experience I've had with a shelter here - well I've had two - was trying to call them up and get them to take a kitten that was hiding in my garage. The reason I tried so hard was because my older neighbors had JUST brought the mother cat and the REST of the kittens in the day before. This one got away and snuck thru a hole into my garage and hid inside the bottom section of a broken copy machine and it took me an hour to get the kitten out. It was too small to be away from its mother and my hope was that I could get it over there before the mother cat rejected it. People are always adopting kittens, it would have been best. Well, they didn't answer their phone and I left a message. By the time I heard back from them, the kitten had gotten out of my house and disappeared! The second time was when my friend was trying to get someone to take her cat because her son had developed allergies to it. They refused and she called 2 other places. I was kind of mad because her son was suffering pretty badly plus the cat had scratched his face.
I am shocked that more animals are not adopted from shelters because they are low cost or free. Pet stores rip you off right and left!
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
23 Jun 08
Yes, that is the show on FX. This week is #4 for the season, I believe they are only doing 6 episodes. It comes on Tuesday nights at 9pm CST. I know it reruns on Friday nights, I believe at 11pm CST.
The animal shelter run by the parish here isn't much better. They are the ones you have to call for inhumane treatment of animals. I have called a few times and nothing was ever visibly done. 
Personally, I only deal with the no kill shelters. Both of our cats came from a no kill shelter. We paid $75 and they came spayed/neutered and with all of their shots.
Personally, I only deal with the no kill shelters. Both of our cats came from a no kill shelter. We paid $75 and they came spayed/neutered and with all of their shots.
@pangeacat (619)
• United States
22 Jun 08
I'm with you. I can't even walk into an animal shelter, unless it's a no kill shelter. There ARE things they can do, but it requires a great deal of effort, and willingness to do more then just punch in, do what the state requires, and punch out. Which is why most city shelters in the United States end up killing the majority of the healthy animals that are brought in.
I read a story once, where a vet was offered a job as the manager type person of a city shelter in New York. The were going to be giving him an increase in his salary, and helping him financially to relocate, so he took them up on the offer. The article said he was so excited on his first day at the shelter in New York.
That very first day, someone brought in a litter of puppies that they didn't want, to the shelter. One of the workers went up to this guy on his first day, who was now the boss, and asked "Okay boss, we just had a litter of puppies come in, who do we get rid of?" The guy asked what he worker meant by that, and he explained that there wasn't room unless they had one of the dogs already in the pound euthanised. The vet guy was appalled. He said, we don't have to kill anyone! He found a sturdy crate in the store room, filled it with rags, and placed the puppies in that crate, leaving them in the very front of the shelter so that they would be the first thing people saw when they entered the shelter.
Those puppies were all successfully adopted out within a couple days, they didn't take up more room, and no one had to die. He continued implementing various tactics, and the end result is that the shelter he operates is now effectively a no kill shelter. So, I know that there are so many things they could do, other then killing otherwise healthy animals. And, to be fair, many shelters around the country have started formulating various programs and implementing tactics that have drastically cut down on the number of animals that "have" to be killed.
So, yeah, that episode would make me cry too! And, I'm with you on the finding a way to get a large plot of land for all the unwanted animals too. A friend of mine and I were discussing that not too long ago, and how we'd like to create a ranch where we could take them all in, from all the shelters that were about to put them to sleep, and just let them roam free, after having been neutered/spayed.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
22 Jun 08
My husband said to call a shelter and talk to them. How on Earth would THAT make me feel better! Men. 
I know I am a bit too soft hearted though. I would love to work in a Vet clinic but I don't think I have the heart to work with the dying animals or helping put even the really sick ones down. We don't do that to people when they suffer.
I know I am a bit too soft hearted though. I would love to work in a Vet clinic but I don't think I have the heart to work with the dying animals or helping put even the really sick ones down. We don't do that to people when they suffer.